Hundreds gather to remember fallen Apollo police officer

It's been 35 years since Leonard C. Miller could put on his Apollo police uniform or a smile on the face of a troubled youth.

He was killed in the line of duty on Jan. 3, 1980, at the age of 21.

His impact on the community, though, and his lasting legacy of sacrifice, youth involvement and community service remain stronger now than ever, according to local dignitaries Thursday at a 35th anniversary memorial ceremony for the fallen officer.

“There is still a great sadness because we lost in Miller a son, a friend, a colleague and a brother,” said Armstrong County District Attorney Scott Andreassi, who served as master of ceremonies. “We lost ‘what might have been' of his life, which we will never know.

“But we should also celebrate his life, what he was able to give us on his short time on Earth and what he continues to give us in death.”

The event drew about 200 people from across the area to the Apollo-Ridge High School auditorium. State, county and local officials; retired and current police officers; and high school students were among those to attend and speak on Miller's behalf.

Most of the speakers touched on Miller's love of life, how he lived it and how his virtues continue to be instilled in the community through the institutions that were founded or renamed in his honor.

Miller was born May 21, 1958, in the Brownstown section of Kiski Township. As a boy, Miller was involved in many extracurricular activities in the Apollo-Ridge School District. He was a Boy Scout as well as a junior volunteer with the Kiski Township Fire Department, and became a certified emergency medical technician with Oklahoma EMS.

After he graduated from high school in 1977, Miller served as a part-time officer in Apollo and Vandergrift as he pursued certification to become a full-time officer, a dream those who knew him had from a young age.

He was three days into his full-time job serving Apollo when he was goaded into a police chase across the Apollo Bridge, shot twice and died.

It was the fourth and final of a string of homicides committed throughout the area in late December 1979 and early January 1980 by two men of the same age. John Lesko and Michael Travaglia — known as the “Kill for Thrill” murderers — have been on Pennsylvania's death row since 1981.

William Kerr, who served as Apollo mayor at the time of Miller's death, spoke Thursday about the decorum with which Miller carried out his police duties.

“He was absolutely congenial and had an unprecedented commitment to public service,” Kerr said. “He had an exceptional rapport with everyone in the community — particularly among the youth. He served as a mentor and someone to look up to. He would never issue a citation without talking it over with them.

“He always had something greater to offer.”

Miller's youth outreach efforts are honored in his death through the borough's Leonard C. Miller Home of Adelphoi Village, for troubled or displaced youths.

On Thursday, one of the home's tenants, a 15-year-old boy from Snyder County, spoke about the positive changes the home has made in his life in the five months since he was “lost and scared” in the back of a police car.

“Before the Leonard Miller home, I was ignorant and disrespectful — I didn't care,” said the boy, who could not be identified due to federal regulations. “In the five months I've been there, I've learned to control my anger, respect people and how to step up and lead.

“I didn't know Leonard, obviously, but from what I heard of him, I think he'd be happy to see what the place does.”

Miller's legacy also lives on through the Apollo Bridge, which was renamed in his honor, and a scholarship that's awarded annually in his name to an Apollo-Ridge graduate who plans to enter a career in law enforcement.

Ron Baustert, Armstrong County 911 coordinator and an Apollo police officer, spoke about the scholarship and his belief that Miller watches over his fellow officers in death.

Baustert was one of four officers who were uninjured in September when a cornered suspect fired upon them repeatedly from close range at the border of Bell and Washington townships.

“We were exactly 217 yards away from where Leonard was killed when we came under fire,” Baustert said. “I like to think that he was with us, watching over us that day. I like to think he continues to be with us every time we leave the house.”

Emotions washed over a tearful crowd as a slideshow of images depicting Miller's life and career played over “America, the Beautiful.” One of the images showed six uniformed pall bearers solemnly carrying Miller's casket, draped elegantly in a crisp American flag.

“It's a tremendous tragedy, but we cannot let it go in vain,” Andreassi said in his closing remarks. “We must remember what he stood for. We must honor Miller, not because he died, but because he lived.”

Braden Ashe is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 724-226-4673 or bashe@tribweb.com.